Cork defeat Limerick in thrilling finale

CORK JUNIORS JUMP HURDLE IN SECOND ROUND THRILLER

CORK
2-10 LIMERICK 2-9

A Niamh Hickey point two minutes into injury time sealed a dramatic
win for Cork on Monday night in the munster junior championship
second round clash in Ballincollig. Eight minutes of injury time
allowed the Rebels’ grab the winning point and Limerick were left
wondering how they let it all slip. A dubious free in the dying
seconds in front of the posts gave them the chance to go home
with some pride but for unknown reasons they chose to play the
ball which was intercepted by player of the match Joanne Hennessy.

Initially it looked like it wasn’t to be Cork’s night when Dympna
O’Brien began rounding defenders as a hobby and against the run
of play Limerick hit a purple patch tallying a 2-2 lead. Blathnaid
Wiseman and Rose Cogan did well to weather the storm, with Karen
O’Sullivan and Eleanor Twohig applying good pressure. A fortunate
goal by Twohig three minutes from half time, gave Cork the lifeline
they needed and it read 1-5 – 2-5 before the whistle. But changes
would have to be made which they were and addition of Beara duo
Susan Power and Emma Harrington was the turning point to restore
the hunger to win.

Despite a player down in the seventh minute following a sinbinning
offence by Blathnaid Wiseman, Cork took control of the game. Midway
through Harrington pounced on the ball following a scramble on
the goalmouth and for the first time the game was deadlocked.
Olivia Gillintane and Meadhbh Nash looked dangerous for Limerick
but it wasn’t enough as Cork began to dominate through Joanne
Hennessy and Elaine Cotter.

The Cork Juniors who beat Limerick

Despite
this possession was given away carelessly and luckily the visitors
didn’t seize the moment. The tension was palpable as points were
exchanged nearing full time but it was Hickey who sealed Cork’s
fate in this electrifying contest. “We made very hard work of
it giving away so much ball”, said manager Cathal O’ Callaghan.
“But the girls showed their true worth. We’re happy with the end
result but the overall performance wasn’t what it should have
been. “The home crowd drove the girls on when they needed it and
with Waterford next Monday in Pairc Ui Rinn we’re hoping we’ll
get the same turn out”, he added.

Scorers for Cork: E Twohig 1-3, N Hickey 0-3, E Harrington
1-0, C O’Sullivan 0-2 (0-1f), S Power and J McCarthy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: D O’Brien 2-3 (0-2frees), L Higgins
0-2, E Enright, M Keating, I Trant, C Murphy 0-1each.
CORK: O Murphy, V Power, AM Walsh, J Hennessy, F Crowley,
R Cogan, B Wiseman, E Cotter, A Walsh, E Twohig, K O’Sullivan,
C O’Sullivan, N Hickey, J McCarthy, C O’Driscoll. Subs: S Power
for C O’Driscoll (26min), T Galvin for V Power (16), E Harrington
for J McCarthy (33min), M Noonan for F Crowley (55).
LIMERICK: M Giltenane, A Neary, E O’Shaughnessy, O Giltenane,
C Sheehan, M Nash, MI Casey, M Shire, E Enright, C Murphy, M Keating,
L Higgins, S O’Connor, D O’Brien, I Trant.
Referee: P White (Kerry)

CORK SET FOR WATERFORD CLASH IN PAIRC UI RINN

On Monday next the Cork senior and junior teams line out in Pairc
Ui Rinn to play neighbours Waterford. Last year was a breakthrough
year for the senior side who defeated the Deise girls by two points
having being under their neighbours thumb for some years. Cork
will be favourites but they have a huge amount of improving to
do on their first round performance.

The juniors however have had more success in the past against
their opponents and are hot favourites to win having defeated
Limerick on Monday. However like their senior colleagues there’s
a lot of improving if they are to progress.

FIXTURES
Saturday 9 July
Minor All-Ireland Semi Final Cork V Donegal Tuam, 3pm
Monday 11 July
MSC, Round 2 Cork V Waterford Pairc Ui Rinn, 8pm
MJC, Round 3 Cork V Waterford Pairc Ui Rinn, 6.30pm
Saturday 16 July
All-Ireland U16 Final Cork V Dublin Cashel, 2pm
RESULTS
Senior League Beara 6-12 Inch Rovers 5-5
U12 League Ballincollig 5-9 Carrigaline 1-3, Ballingeary 4-6 Ballincollig
11-8